It has been more than a year since the sole information kiosk installed at the entrance of the Citizens’ Service Centre inside the Corporation office shut down. Today, the kiosk merely screens a 15-minute monotonous film extolling the achievements as well as services of the BBMP which gets replayed once it concludes, reminding one of a poor broken record. The sorry part is that even this film is  outdated and speaks of the BMP (and not BBMP) days.
The commentary is in English making a mockery of the State’s efforts to popularise Kannada language. The user space in front of the kiosk once used to be as crowded as the systems inside railway stations which give the reservation status.
And why not? It once offered the public valuable information.  Corporation sources said that using the touch screen system one could find out details  regarding voters’ list and property tax. The procedure to be followed to file an application to get an automatic sanction plan for residences and properties were also spelt out.
Another valuable purpose it served was the birth certificate application form it provided when a one-rupee coin was dropped inside the coin slot in the machine.  However, this last aspect was rendered redundant when the Corporation decided to issue the forms free of cost.  
The kiosk was inaugurated in 2003 and was very useful to the public, sources said. “We are tired of responding about its non-working status to people who want to get information. By now, many have stopped asking as they have realised it will never work,” said a source.
“The company which supplied us the system has not set it right despite repeated servicing requests,” alleges an employee.
So, what is the BBMP going to do about it? W M Sivakumar, IT advisor, BBMP, claims that the public used it only for getting the birth certificate application form. Since it is issued free of cost they do not use it any more. He also said the system had a connectivity problem which has been set right and there is “no problem now.” As a film on the newly constituted BBMP was still getting readied, the old film was screened there, he said.
When it was persistently brought to his notice that none of the utility services it offered to the public were now accessible, he said, “We may replace the kiosk in another two months.’’
Well, until then members of the public can stand in front of its monitor and enjoy and re-enjoy the documentary on the old Corporation. Happy watching!